Truss



(Model) L. B. STUART.

Truss.

No. 237,926; Patented Feb. 15,1881.

9h Zneaaes: Ina/927,501:

.lw Q v f NHE TATES LEVI B. STUART, OF SEYMOUR, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FREDERIC- DURAND, OF HUNTINGTON, CONNECTICUT.

TRUSS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 237,926, dated February 15, 1881.

Application filed August 4, 1880. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, LEVI B. STUART,of Seymour, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trusses; and 1 do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My improvements consist in a special con-v struction of a clutch-pad and its adjuncts; in a novel construction of the main body or frame of the truss, whereby the same is lighter, more easily fitted to the person, and easier to wear, while equally as strong as those now in use; and in certain other devices and combinations of devices, all hereinafter more particularly set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view, and Fig. 2 an elevation, of myimproved truss. Fig. 3 shows the position of the two pads when the movable pad is nearly closed upon the fixed one; Fig. 4, a detail showing the spring-wire frame; Fig. 5, asection through as as of Fig.1; Fig. 6, a section through y y of Fig. 2.

The front pad is an opening and closing clutch-pad, made in two parts, A B, each of which is a single pad, and each is severally attached to its own independent thin flat spring 0 or 61, made of steel or brass, as desired, these springs being riveted together near their opposite ends, as shown at e, and one of them, preferably that one which supports the upper or smaller pad, B, is firmly fastened to the main spring-wire, ff f which constitutes the skeleton-frame. The rivete serves as a pivotal center or axis, on which the spring arm or lever 0 moves, the movement being relatively to the other spring, d, similar to that of the blades of a shears, and causing the pads A and B to approach each other vertically when the truss is upon the person. Each of these springs may, if desired, turn upon a center, so as to allow each pad to have a vertical movement to and from the other one.

On the top or outer side of each spring 0 d is pivoted another small spring, (marked respectively g and 7a,) and these are connected together at their other ends by a rivet, i, havin g a hook or headed projection, j, which serves as a button adapted to enter the eye or button-hole of the strap which fastens the truss to the person. The springs g h thus applied serve as connecting swing-links, whereby the two pads may be brought together or separated at will.

The upper or small pad, B, forms a rest for the truss, and also facilitates the holding back of the hernial sack. The lower or large pad, A, moves upward with a lifting motion, caused by the tightening or the pull of the strap it upon the projection j of the spring-links g h, Y

such pull drawing these links together and causing the spring 0 to move upward toward the spring (1 until such pad A rests upon the ruptured part, and it thus holds the hernial rupture with an upward pressure; and it will be observed that the greater the strain on the truss the stronger the pad will hold.

This clutch-pad is not liable to slip out of place, as single pads frequently do; and as I rely upon the strap to pull the parts together and to keep them in position, no rack or pawl for this purposeis needed, such as is shown in my Patent No. 214,469, and, unlike the construction therein shown, the movable pad in the present case moves up and down, and not outward and inward, relative to the person.

When my present improved truss is on the person and a strain from coughing orany violent exercise presses the ruptured part outward, and for the moment forces the lower pad downward, the pressure of the strap, acting promptly upon the small springs g h, will cause it to return to its place. By the movements of the body the steady pressure of the truss is somewhat relieved by being sometimes thrown upon one pad and sometimes upon the other.

This double clutch-pad, it will be seen, continually presses the ruptured parts together, instead of forcing them apart, as most single pads must, and while thus very efiicient it is also easy to the wearer.

Another feature of myimprovement consists in making the back-pad flat, thin, and flexible, instead of convex or ball-shaped, and whereby it is not only much easier to the wearer, but accommodates itself to the form and movements of the body, changing the points of contact or bearin gs of the pad frequently. I make such pad Z of thin hard rubber or other suitable material, and apply it in a way presently to be described; and its structureis such that the wearer may lie down upon his back without suffering any inconvenience, as it does not press into or indent his flesh or painfully press against his bones; nor does it interfere with a nice fit of his outer clothing, as it occupies so little space in thickness. This thin plate or pad is arranged to slide on the springwires ff, which I employ instead of the custom ary flat piece of steel, this doubled or retrovertcd wire constitutin the main body or spring of the truss, and to which the other parts are attached. Loops or eyes 0 p on the pad I admit these wires through them, and this pad may be slid on the wires to adjust its position as the wearer may desire. These wires converge at the doubled part f where they are fastened to the spring (I, and their outer or most divergent ends, after being passed through the loops 0 p, are bent at right angles and inserted into a tube or other appropriate device, to which one end of the strap is permanently attached. The curvature of the diverging wire is less than the longitudinal curvature of the flat pad l, and this also assists in holding such pad or plate to any position to which it may be adjusted on the wires, as will readily be seen by reference to Fig. 1, so that though I be a flat plane, and though the wires within the loops 01) do not always abut against the ends of these loops, still the pad can hold itself to its adjusted position. on the converging parts ff of the wire. The advantages of this doubled spring-wire over the usual single flat sprin g or springs are, thatit ismuch lighter, more easily fitted, less liable to break, easier to the wearer, interferes less with free perspiration, does not overheat the flesh, is more flexible and yields in every direction to accord with the movements of the body, is not liable to cut either the flesh or the clothing, and causes less friction, while the strength and durability of the two arms or members of this wire is quite equal to, if not greater than, flat pieces of steel. This wire may be of brass or steel.

Instead of the doubled wire fff two separate wires may be used.

Pieces of thin, hard rubber 1 s, or any suitable material, secured together, face opposite sides of the wire frame, and serve to cover that part where the springs and wires are united, and to give a smooth surface next the body at that part.

My improved truss complete need not exceed four ounces in weight.

I claim 1. The double or clutch pad described, consisting of the two separate padsAB,eaeh severally attached to the end of a thin flat spring, these springs being pivoted together, and permitting the pads to approach or recede from each other in vertical planes, as set forth.

2. In combination with the pads A15 and with their springs c d, the links 5 h, pivoted to each other and to the springs c d, and provided with a means for attaching the strap thereto, and operating as set forth.

3. The truss described, composed of the divergent wire frame, the front pads, and their supporting-springs attached to the convergent end of such frame, and the thin flat pad adjustably applied to its divergent end, all substantially as shown and described.

LEVI B. STUART.

Witnesses:

DAVID TORRANOE, FREDERIG DURAND. 

